Fluid power device



May 22, 1945. E. P. GONZER 2,376,536.

FLUID POWER DEVICE Filed Oct. 4, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.Ear/719$) 1? 60/25 y 1945- E. P. GONZER 2,376,536

FLUI'D POWER DEVICE Filed Oct. 4, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 QEEE INVENTQR.

Ear/76:57 x. Gan a" Patented May 22, 1945 Y Earnest P. Gonzer, Romulus,Mich.

Application October 4, 1943, Serial No. 504,844

Claims.

This invention relates to fluid power apparatus and has particularreference to a suction device for doing effective work.

An object of the invention is the provision of a device of the characterreferred to, which may be employed in a moving body of water or air,whereby the movement of the water or air about the device creates asuction in the device, which can be employed to do work at a remoteplace.

A stream of water having a well defined current is an ideal place forthe operation of the device, although in a modified form it may beemployed in the ocean so as to take advantage of wave motion,undercurrents and the'like.

Because of the numerous conditions 7 which might be found in theactivating current where the device might be used, such as strength,turbulence, depth, speed and other factors that might be used todescribe flow, and because of the number of forces brought into play bythe device, such as vacuum, vibration, cavitation and others, it will beunderstood that many modifications can be made, all of which are withinthe contemplation of the invention. The embodiments herein disclosed areillustrative of the principles involved and are not to be consideredconclusive.

The force generatedby this device may be employed to operate a turbine,a pump, or other types of machines, or may be used for other usefulwork, wherein suction may be employed directly or may be converted toother types of eny.

In the drawings forming part of the within disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of a device embodying theinvention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the device illustrated in Fig. 2, takensubstantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. v

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of a device employing a plurality ofstructures, such as illustrated in Fig. 1, tied together through acommon intake conduit.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view in section taken substantially on the line4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modified form of a deviceembodying the invention.

Fig. 6 is a section taken substantially on the line 65 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a modified form of one of the bafiles employed in a structuresuch as illustrated in Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a section taken substantially on the lines 8-8 of Figs. 6 and7.

Fig. 9 is another modified form of a square baffie such as shown in Fig.'7.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings it will be understoodthat in the embodiment disclosed in Fig. 1, the device in its simplestform consists of a plurality of bell-shaped bafiles I I mounted on anintake pipe I2,and submerged in a body of water I3, in which there is acurrent moving in the direction indicated by the arrows. The intake pipeI 2 is provided with a plurality of radial ports l4, arranged betweenthe baflles II, which ports l4 permit communication between the interiorof the pipe I2 and the spaces I5 defined by the walls of the baiiles II.The walls of the baffles II are provided with increased thickness, as atI6, this restricts the area of the spaces I5, between the baffles II,and results in a function similar in principle to that known as theBernoulli effect. The intake pipe I2 may be closed at the lower end I1,and at the upper end I8, which is above the Water level, communicateswith a work producing unit I9, which may be of any character adapted toemploy suction. The pipe I2 may be provided with a ball valve 20,adapted to prevent loss of suction in event of the lowering of the waterlevel and to prevent water from entering the pipe I2 beyond itslocation.

. In Fig. 3, I illustrate the manner of connecting together a pluralityof the units shown in Fig. 1, to produce increased results. In thisembodiment the units all tie unto the common intake pipe I2, through thesub-pipes I2A. The submerged assembly may be supported on the stream bedby any suitable means, as at 2|. It will be understood that any numberof units may be ganged together, and that many different installationsmay be made to suit the conditions encountered, without violating thespirit of the invention.

In Fig. 5, I show a modified form of a device in which I employ verticalbaffles 22, which are mounted on the intake pipe 23, as hereinafterdescribed. The baffies 22, are provided with an internal bore 24, sothat'they may be slipped onto the pipe 23, and secured in position bymeans of the stop members 25 and 26. The stop member 26 is backed up bya stop ring 21, which is provided with a set screw 28 which holds itagainst displacement on the pipe 23. The stop 25 is preferablyinternally threaded as at 29, and is held in position by a lock nut 30.The pipe 23 is preferably closed. by a plug 3|. The baflles 22 arepreferably made of a corrosionless flexible metal or the like, and areadapted to bend one way and then the other under the influence of thewater movement. This type of structure is admirably suited for use inthe ocean, where the movement of the water is reciprocable, or wherethere may be a current above and an undertow below.

The balfies 22 are .provided with integral spacers 32. The spacers 32are provided with radial slots 33, Figs. 6, 7, and 8, which communicatewith the spaces 34 between the bafiles 22. The construction againsimulates the action of a Venturi tube. It will be noted that in thisembodiment the pipe 23 is provided with longitudinal slots 35, whichcommunicate the interior of the pipe 23 with the spaces 34, between thebafiles 22. This embodiment is also provided with a spring backed ballvalve 36 to prevent the loss of suction should the water level fall, andto prevent water from going beyond it into the pipe 23.

In Figs. 6, '7, and 9, I have shown modified forms of the baffles 22,which might be employed in a structure such as shown in Fig. 5.

The operation of the device illustrated in Fig. is similar to that ofthe operation of the device shown in Fig. 1. The operation of the devicein both embodiments is simple. In Fig. l, the movement of-the water inthe direction indicated by the arrow, creates a partial vacuum in thespaces l5, between the baffles H causing a suction in the pipe 62, whichdraws air in from above the water level and discharges it into the waterthrough the ports [2, and the spaces l5 between the battles l I. I

The operation of the device shown in Fig. 5 is substantially the same,except that in this embodiment the baffles 22 are flexible and arepermitted to move in both directions with the motion of the water. Thisdevice is intended to be submerged in water having a forward andbackward movement such as the surf of the ocean.

In-this embodiment the spacers 32 are in con- The suction created in thepipe 23 may beharnessed in any, suitablemanner to do efiective work. I

Having described my invention what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. A device of the character described comprising a submerged conduithaving an openingabove water level, apertures in said conduit, aplurality of closely spaced, bell-like, peripheral baflles mounted onsaid conduit in predetermined relation to said apertures, said baflieshaving walls of increased thickness adjacent their free ends.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of one ormore submerged conduits having a common intake above water level, aplurality of flexible peripheral baflles secured to said conduits,spacers between said bafiles, and apertures in said conduitscommunicating with the spaces defined between said baflles.

3. The combination defined in claim 2, in which there are passageways insaid spacer in alignment-with the apertures in said conduits.

4. The combination defined in claim 2, including means to limit theflexing of said baffles.

5. The combination defined in claim 2, including means to prevent thebreaking of the suction in said conduits in the event of the water levelfalling below the upper edges of said bafiles.

EARNEST P. GONZER.

